Icemaker using condenser cooling water as thawing medium



Sept. 9, 1969 I M. L. NELSON 3,465,537

ICEMAKER USING CONDENSER COOLING WATER AS THAWING MEDIUM Filed Sept. 12,1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I .P i J IL... w m INVENTOR;

E BY

M- L. NELSON Sept. 9, 1969 IGEMAKER USING CONDENSER COOLING WATER ASTHAWING MEDIUM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1967 INVENTORQ /Vc=7.9071

M. L. NELSON Sept. 9,1969

ICEMAKER USING CONDENSER COOLING WATER AS THAWING MEDIUM 5 Sheets-SheetFiled Sept. 12, 1967 TO DRAIN R M W, we 6 mm 7 4 4v 4 y United StatesPatent "ice 3,465,537 ICEMAKER USING CONDENSER COOLING WATER AS THAWINGMEDIUM Marcus L. Nelson, Albert Lea, Minn., assignor to King- SeeleyThermos Co., Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 12,1967, Ser. No. 667,117 Int. Cl. F25d 17/02; F25c 5/10, N00 US. Cl.62-181 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An icemaking apparatuscomprising an inverted ice forming mold; a refrigeration systemincluding an evaporator and a condenser comprising a tank containingthawing water in heat transfer relation with the hot gaseous refrigerantline of the refrigeration system; a thawing water retaining compartmentadjacent the mold and adapted to contain water in heat transfer relationwith respect to the evaporator; a. water reservoir disposed below theform; spraying means for directing water wtihin the reservoir toward theform; a water inlet and a water outlet and fluid circuit meanscommunicating the inlet with the tank and the outlet with the reservoir;a pump for pumping water from the reservoir to the fluid s raying meansand a motor for driving the pump; conduit means disposed between themotor and the reservoir for communicating water from around the pumpshaft back to the reservoir; an auxiliary water circulating systemcommunicable with the water inlet and the condenser for supplyingadditional cooling effect, and means responsive to the refrigerantpressure within the refrigeration system for selectively controlling theflow of water through the auxiliary circuit, the above system beingadapted to use a quantity of water as a cooling medium for the condenserduring the freezing cycle, wherein such water is heated a predeterminedamount, thereafter using that heated water to release the ice from theice form, and finally use the same water to make up the ice during thenext successive freezing cycle.

Background of the invention In Patent No. Re. 26,101, reissued Oct. 11,1966, for Ice Making Apparatus, and assigned to the assignee of thisapplication, an apparatus is shown for producing ice cubes or the likeand comprising a plurality of inverted ice cube molds or forms adaptedto have water sprayed therewithin by means of a water spraying devicelocated below the forms. Surrounding the ice cube forms is a Warm waterbasin or platen which is adapted to be filled with thawing Water afterthe freezing portion of the cycle has been completed, whereupon the icecubes which were formed within the molds will drop therefrom into achute or storage bin during a subsequent harvest portion of theoperational cycle. After the ice cubes have thus been formed andreleased, the thawing water is transferred to a sump tank to be used forsupplying water to the spraying device during the next freezing portionof the cycle. The condenser comprises a tank filled with water in heattransfer relation with the hot refrigerant line of the refrigerationsystem. During the freezing cycle this water serves as the primarycooling medium for the condenser and is thereby warmed. At theconclusion of the freezing cycle water from this tank is delivered tothe basin or platen and serves as the thawing medium during the harvestcycle. During the freezing cycle, valve mechanism which senses the hotgaseous refrigerant pressure provides for a modulated or controlled flowof water through the tank to thereby control the cooling effect of thecondenser.

3,465,537 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 The present invention is generallyrelated to an icemaking apparatus of the above described character;however, the apparatus of the present invention incorporates several newand improved features. In particular, the icemaking apparatus of thepresent invention incorporates a novel arrangement of component partswherein the water not used in making cubes during one freezing cycle isautomatically carried away from a water reservoir by means of anoverflow arrangement, thereby obviating the need for any valve mechanismor the like. Additionally, in the aforementioned patent, during thefreezing portion of the cycle, the aforementioned valve mechanismprovides for a controlled flow of water through the thawing water tankto cool the condenser. In the instant invention, no flow of waterthrough the thawing water tank occurs during the freezing cycle. In theevent additional cooling of the condenser is need, an auxiliary watercircuit is called upon to supply such additional cooling effect suitablemeans responsive to the refrigerant pressure within the refrigerationsystem being utilized to selectively communicate fresh water to theauxiliary water circuit. With the subject construction, effectiveoperation of the icemaking apparatus may be achieved by usingconsiderably less water than was heretofore necessary in theaforementioned type of ice cube producing device, whereby tosubstantially enhance the economies of operation.

The icemaking apparatus of the present invention is furthercharacterized by unique arrangement of the water pump and drive motorfor the pump with respect to the water reservoir, which arrangementobviates the need for any expensive water tight seals, packings or thelike on the drive shaft operatively connecting the motor with the pump.Such a construction is accomplished by a particular arrangement of thepump motor and through the provision of a specially located conduit orpipe which interconnects the shaft housing for the pump with the waterreservoir, which conduit is adapted to communicate any excess water,which might ordinarily tend to move upwardly along the pump drive shafttoward the motor, back to the reservoir, thereby preventing any damageto the pump motor.

Summary of the invention This invention relates generally to icemakingapparatus and, more particularly, to a new and improved apparatus forforming ice cubes by means of spraying water into a plurality ofinverted molds, wherein the same water that is used for making the cubesis used as a condensing medium and means for releasing the cubes fromthe ice forming molds.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide anew and improved icemaking apparatus.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide anicemaking apparatus which utilizes the same water as a condensingmedium, as a means for releasing the cubes from their associated formingmolds, and for the water used in making the cubes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved icemaking apparatus of the above character which obviates theneed for any drain valves or the like for releasing water not used informing the cubes during the freezing portion of the operational cycle.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved icemaking apparatus of the above character which incorporatesan independent water circuit for an auxiliary cooling means for therefrigerator condenser.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved icemaking apparatus of the above type which includes pressureresponsive valve means for permitting cold water to supply additionalcooling effect to the condenser of the refrigeration system.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved icemaking apparatus of the above character which is of anarrangement wherein the drive motor for the water pump is located abovethe water level of the water reservoir and is provided with conduitmeans for communicating water away from the drive shaft of the motor,whereby to obviate the need for any special pump packings, seals or thelike.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anicemaking apparatus of the above character wherein water which isheating as a result of cooling the refrigerator condenser is adapted tobe forced to a position adjacent the ice cube forming molds solely bymeans of fresh cold potable water that is communicated to the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view,partially broken away, of an icemaking apparatus in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated inFIGURE 1, as seen in the direction of the arrow 2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section takensubstantially along the line 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view takensubstantially along the line 44 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of theapparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, as seen in the direction of the arrow5 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Description of a preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, anicemaking apparatus 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, is shown as comprising an exterior enclosure orcabinet, generally designated 12, that is preferably provided withinsulation 14 along the exterior walls thereof and includes a lowercompartment 16 and an upper compartment 18. Generally speaking, thelower compartment 16 contains a refrigeration system consisting, exceptas hereinafter stated, of substantially conventional elements, and theupper compartment 18 comprises means for producing a supply of ice incubed form, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

As best seen in FIGURES 1, 6 and 7, the refrigeration systemincorporated in the icemaking apparatus of the present inventioncomprises a usual compressor 20 that is supported by means of suitablesupport brackets or the like 22 that are rigidly secured to the lowerend of the cabinet 12 by means of suitable screws, bolts or the like 24.The compressor 20 is provided with an inlet conduit 26 and an outletconduit 28, the latter of which leads to a condenser, generallydesignated 30. Condenser 30 comprises a closed tank 34, which houses apair of interleaved helically formed coils 32 and 33 which are solderedor otherwise bonded to each other in continuous surface engagementthroughout their lengths so as to provide for efficient heat transfertherebetween. The inlet of coil 32 is directly and continuouslyconnected to the high pressure line 28 leading from the compressor. Theoutlet 94 of coil 32 leads to the evaporator, as described below. Tank34 contains a body of water which, during one freezing cycle, serves asa primary cooling medium for the condenser; during the next harvestcycle serves as thawing water for the ice cubes; and provides themake-up water for the next freezing cycle.

A water inlet lines 36 which is adapted to be connected with a suitablesource of fresh potable water leads through a T-connection 46 and asolenoid valve mechanism, generally designated 38, to the inlet 40 oftank 34. Valve 38 is mounted on the top of the tank 34 by a suitablefitting 42. The valve mechanism 38 may be of any conventionalconstruction adapted to be actuated in response to an electrical signalcommunicated thereto by means of suitable electrical conductors,generally designated 43, whereby the valve mechanism 38 will selectivelycommunicate water flowing through the water inlet conduit 36 to thestandpipe 40, with the result that such water will flow into the tank34. The water outlet conduit 96 extends upwardly from the lowercompartment 16 to the icemaking mechanism located in the uppercompartment 18, as will hereinafter be described.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 6, the T-fitting 46 functions to connectone end of an auxiliary water conduit 48 to the supply conduit 36. Theopposite end of the conduit 48 is connected to a usual pressureresponsive modulating type valve mechanism, generally designated by thenumeral 50, the sensing chamber whereof is also connected by means of asuitable pressure line 52 and T- fitting 54 with the outlet conduit 28of the compressor 20. Thus, valve mechanism responds to the refrigerantpressure within the conduit 28 of the compressor 20. Increases in thispressure above a predetermined minimum cause valve 50 to proportionatelyand progressively move from the closed position toward the open positionand decreases below a predetermined maximum, cause a progressive andproportional movement toward the closed position. When the valvemechanism 50 is fully or partially open, the auxiliary water conduit 48is connected to another auxiliary conduit 56 which opens into thepreviously mentioned second coil 33 in the condenser 30. The outlet 44of coil 33 may lead directly to drain. Thus, in accordance with onefeature of the present invention, the water in tank 34 constitutes theprimary cooling medium for condenser 30, but additional cooling effectis produced by a progressively controlled fiow of Water through theauxiliary coil 33. In the event the internal pressure of the refrigerantin the compressor 20 exceeds a predetermined level this minimizes thewater consumed by the apparatus 10.

Referring now to the contents of the upper compartment 18 of the cabinet12, as best seen in FIGURES 1 through 3, the upper compartment 18 isprovided with a generally vertically extending ice conveying chute 60which defines a horizontally disposed shoulder or ledge 62 around theupper end thereof. Fixedly mounted on the shoulder 62 is a generallyrectangular shaped water containing vessel or platen, generallydesignated 64, which comprises a bottom wall section 66 and fourvertically extending wall sections 68. As shown in FIGURE 3, thesections 66 and 68 of the platen 64 define a central cavity 70 withinwhich a usual refrigeration coil or evaporator 72 is located, theevaporator 72 comprising inlet and outlet lines 74 and 76, asillustrated in FIGURE 2.

The platen 64 is preferably fabricated of a molded rubber material orthe like and is formed with a plurality of symmetrically orientedopenings, generally designated 78, in the lower end thereof, whichopenings 78 are defined by upwardly extending tapered flange portions 80integrally formed on the upper side of the bottom wall section 66. Theflange sections 80 define radially outwardly extending annular groovesor recesses 82 which are adapted to removably receive radially outwardlyextending shoulder portions 84 formed around the lower ends of aplurality of circular ice-forming molds or cups 86, as seen in FIGURE 3.The platen 64 is also formed with an overflow passage 88 which isadapted to automatically communicate water out of the cavity 70 in theevent the level or upper surface thereof rises above a positionindicated by the line 90 in FIGURE 3, the overflow passage 88 beingadapted to communicate such water downwardly to a water reservoirdisposed directly below the platen 64, as will hereinafter be described.The platen 64 is further provided with a relatively small passage 92which is formed in the bottom wall section 66 thereof. The passage 92 isadapted to release or dribble any water that may be contained within thecavity 70 of the platen 64 to the aforementioned reservoir at acontrolled rate, whereby to obviate the need for any drain valve or thelike on the platen 64, as will later be described.

As best illustrated in FIGURES l and 6, the inlet and outlet lines 74and 76 of the evaporator 72 are connected with the high and low pressurerefrigerant conduits 94 and 26, respectively, which extend upwardly fromthe lower compartment 16 to the upper compartment 18, whereby tocomplete a usual circuit between the condenser 30, compressor 20 andevaporator 72, it being understood that the connection between lines 94and 74 includes a usual pressure reducing device such as a capillarytube or expansion valve (not shown). Thus, it will be seen that gaseousrefrigerant at relatively high pressure supplied by compressor 20 tocondenser 30 is cooled and liquified as it passes through condenser 30.The thus cooled and liquified refrigerant flows from the condenser 30upwardly through the conduit 94 and the pressure reducing device (notshown) to the inlet line 74 of the evaporator, wherein it is vaporizedby the transfer of heat thereto from the water being formed into cubes.The gaseous refrigerant fiows from the evaporator through the outletline 76, which is joined to the inlet or suction side of the compressor.As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the upper end of the conduit 94communicating refrigerant to the evaporator 72 may be provided withsuitable insulation means 95. The previously mentioned outlet conduit 96from tank 34 leads directly into the cavity 70 of the platen 64 anddelivers water thereto during the harvest portion of the operationalcycle, as will hereinafter be described.

The lower end of the ice chute 60 is formed with a converging wallportion 98 which defines a recessed shoulder portion 100 and terminatesat the lower end thereof in a generally vertically extending wallsection 102 of a water reservoir, generally designated 104. Thereservoir 104 is also defined by upwardly extending wall sections 106and 108. The lower end of the chute 60 and the upper end of thereservoir 104 are separated by a suitable downwardly inclined screen, orthe like, 110 which is adapted to allow water to drop downwardly fromthe lower side of the platen 64 into the reservoir 104 but prevents anyice cubes which are produced during operation of the apparatus fromfalling into the reservoir 104. The ice cubes which are produced by theapparatus 10 pass down the chute 60 and along screen 110 and throughdoor 112 to a suitable storage bin or ice cube reservoir (not shown)located within the cabinet 12. Door 112 is hingedly or pivotally mountedat 114 to the chute 60. The force of cubes falling against the innerside of the curtain 112 will effect opening thereof, whereby the cubeswill drop downwardly into the aforementioned ice cube storage bin orreservoir.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, means for spraying water into theplurality of inverted cups 86 mounted on the platen 64 is provided by agenerally U-shaped water supply conduit 116 having upwardly extendingsections 118 and 120' which project through suitable sealed openings 122and 124, respectively, in the recessed portion 100 of the inclined wallsection 98. The upper ends of the conduit sections 118 and 120 areprovided by suitable spray nozzles or the like, 126 and 128,respectively, which are located centrally of the platen 64, whereby thenozzles 126, 128 are adapted to concomitantly spray water upwardly intoall of the inverted cups 86.

In order to communicate water from within the reservoir 104 to the watersupply conduit 116, a pumping assembly, generally designated 130, isprovided in the upper compartment 18 of the cabinet 12. Moreparticularly, the assembly 130 comprises a pump unit 132 which includesa pump housing 134 having water inlet and outlet sections 136 and 138,respectively. The inlet section 136 of the pump housing 134 iscommunicable with the lowermost portion of the reservoir 104 by means ofa suitable water conduit 140, while the outlet section 138 of the pumphousing 134 is communicable with the lower end of the water supplyconduit 116 through a suitable conduit 142. The pump unit 132 includes asuitable impeller 144 which is drivingly connected through a suitablevertically extending drive shaft 146 with a suitable electric pumpmotor, generally designated 148, mounted directly above the pump unit132. The shaft 146 extends through a generally vertically disposed shafthousing 150, the interior of which is communicable through a suitableconduit 152 with the interior of the reservoir 104. In accordance withone of the features of the present invention, the conduit 152 is locatedbelow the motor 148 and is thereby adapted to function in communicatingany water which may tend to rise along the drive shaft 146 duringoperation of the pumping assembly 130 back to the reservoir 104, therebyobviating the necessity of providing any packing, seals or the likearound the upper end of the shaft 146 to prevent water from beingtransmitted to the pump motor 148. In order to assure that such sealingmeans is not required on the drive shaft 146, the motor 148 ispositioned well above the water level ever attained within the reservoir104, which water level is controlled by means of an overflow conduit 154that may lead directly from reservoir 104 to drain. The overflow conduit154 is positioned relative to the reservoir 104 such that it is adaptedto automatically maintain a predetermined volume of water within thereservoir 104, i.e., approximately that quantity of water which isrequired to make up the next batch of ice cubes during the subsequentoperational cycle. By virtue of the provision of the conduit 154, anywater transmitted to the reservoir 104 in excess of the aforesaid amountwill be automatically communicated to the drain conduit withoutrequiring any drain valves or similar complex and expensive devices tobe opened and closed at predetermined times during the operationalcycle. Thus, it will be seen that any water which might tend to risealong the shaft 146 will be communicated back to the reservoir 104through the conduit 152, and that the water level within the reservoir104 will always be lower than the pump motor 148 through the provisionof the overflow conduit 154.

In operation of the icemaking apparatus 10 of the present invention,assuming the initial conditions that the plurality of inverted iceforming molds 86 are empty, that the tank 34 and reservoir 104 arefilled with water, that the valve mechanism 38 is closed and that thewater inlet line 36 is connected to a suitable source of water, thefreezing cycle of the apparatus 10 is initiated by starting operation ofthe compressor 20, for example, by means of energizing in any usualmanual or automatic (such as a bin control) manner a suitable controlsystem which is representatively shown in FIGURES 1 and 6 and generallydesignated by the numeral 158. As the compressor 20 is started,refrigerant will be forced through the conduit 28 to the condenser 30,and thereafter through the condenser 30 and the conduit 94 and thepressure reducing device (not shown) to the evaporator 72. Therefrigerant will thereafter flow through and be vaporized within theevaporator 72 and then be returned to the compressor 20 through theoutlet line 76 and compressor inlet conduit 26. Simultaneously, the pumpmotor 148 will be energized by means of the aforemen tioned controlsystem 158 which is operatively connected to the motor 148 by means ofsuitable electrical conductors 160, whereby water within the reservoir104 will be pumped to the water supply conduit 116 and thereafter besprayed upwardly through the nozzles 126, 128

7 into the inverted cups 86 supported on the lower side of the platen64.

As a result of the water being sprayed into the cups 86, ice cubes willbegin to form therewithin, with any excess water dropping downwardlythrough the chute 60 into the reservoir 104. During this time, the waterwithin the tank 34 functions to cool the condenser 30, whereby tocondense the hot gaseous refrigerant into a liquid, with the result thatthe water within the tank 34 simultaneously becomes heated preparatoryto the harvest portion of the operational cycle. In the event that andif at any time during the freezing cycle the pressure in the line 28exceeds a predetermined value, indicating a need for more cooling of thecondenser than is being accomplished by the water in tank 94, thepressure responsive valve mechanism 50 will be partially or fully openedto allow a corresponding quantity of water to circulate through theauxiliary water coil 33, which water will thereby flow in intimate heattransfer relation with respect to the refrigerant coil 32 of thecondenser 30, resulting in a prompt reduction of the refrigerantpressure to within acceptable limits. The water thus transmitted throughcoil 33 will be communicated to the drain, as above described.

When ice cubes have been formed within the cups 86, after a time whichmay be controlled by any suitable temperature-sensitive or timingdevice, the freezing portion of the cycle will be completed and theharvest portion of the cycle will begin. During the harvest portion, thevalve mechanism 38 will be opened, with the result that fresh potablewater will flow into the tank 34, which incoming water will force thewater within the tank 34 that was heated during the freezing portion ofthe cycle, upwardly through the water outlet conduit 96 whichcommunicates this warm water into the cavity 70 defined by the platen64. Any excess water conveyed to the cavity 70 will be discharged to thereservoir 104 through the overflow passage 88. The warm water thustransmitted to the platen 64 will flow around the upper sides of thecups 86, thereby thawing the outer surfaces of the ice cubes formedtherewithin and releasing such cubes from the platen 64, whereby thecubes will drop downwardly through the chute 60 and force the curtain112 open to permit the cubes to fall into the ice cube storage binwithin the cabinet 12. The warm water which is conveyed to the cavity 70will be slowly released (during the harvest cycle and the initial partof the next freezing cycle) through the dribble opening 92, wherein suchwater will drop downwardly into the reservoir 104 to be used during thefreezing portion of the next successive cycle, the overflow conduit 154assuring that the water level in the reservoir 104 will not rise above apreselected position.

After the harvest portion of the cycle has been completed, the valvemechanism 38 will be closed to prevent any further water from enteringthe tank 34, and any of the water still remaining in the platen 64 willpass through the dribbler opening 92 to the reservoir 104, which waterwill thereafter be sprayed into the inverted cups 86 to form the batchof ice cubes produced during the next successive operational cycle whichwould be identical to that hereinabove described.

It will be seen from the above described construction of the presentinvention that the icemaking apparatus provides a novel and efficientarrangement for producing ice cubes in an extremely rapid, sanitary andeconomical manner. By virtue of the fact that the same water is used ineach operational cycle to cool the condenser 30, to release the cubespreviously formed in the platen 64, and to subsequently make up the nextbatch of cubes, the quantity of water used during each operational cycleis minimized to the extreme. Moreover, it will be seen that any waternot used in making cubes during one freezing cycle will be saved untilthe next freezing cycle in the reservoir 104, and that any excess waterwill be automatically carried away by means of the overflow conduit 154,thereby obviating the need for any drain valves and associated actuatingmechanisms for such valves. Furthermore, the water consumption of theapparatus 10 is maintained at a minimum level since the flow of waterthrough the condenser during the freezing cycle occurs only in the eventadditional cooling of the condenser 30 is needed. Additionally, theabove described embodiment of the present invention is characterized bya unique arrangement of the pump unit 132 and pump motor 148, whereinthe pump motor 148 is positioned well above the water level everattained within the reservoir 104 which, together with the provision ofthe conduit 142 communicating the shaft housing 150 with the reservoir104, obviates the necessity of any pump packing or the like between thepump unit 132 and the pump motor 148. Also, it will be noted that byvirtue of the closed nature of the water system embodied in the presentinvention, ordinary city water pressure is sufficient to raise thecooling water from the tank 34 to the platen 64 where such water is usedto release the cubes from the cups 86, thereby obviating the need forany secondary pumping arrangement.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment illustratedherein is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it willbe appreciated that the present invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an icemaking apparatus,

a form for receiving water to be frozen,

thawing water retaining means adjacent said form,

a refrigeration system including a condenser,

a water inlet,

first water circulating means in direct heat transfer relation with saidcondenser and communicable with said thawing water retaining means,

second water circulating means in direct heat transfer relation withsaid condenser, and means responsive to the operative conditions of saidrefrigeration system for communicating one of said water circulatingmeans with said water inlet.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last mentionedmeans communicates said second water circulating means with said waterinlet.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said refrigerationsystem includes a compressor, and wherein said last mentioned means isresponsive to the internal pressure of said compressor.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes a drain means,and wherein said second water circulating means is communicable withsaid water inlet and said drain means.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes pressuresensitive valve means for communicating said second water circulatingmeans with said water inlet, and wherein said second water circulatingmeans is substantially coextensive of said condenser.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes holding meansfor said thawing water, said holding means adapted to maintain water indirect heat transfer relation with said condenser, which includes afirst conduit for communicating said water inlet with the interior ofsaid holding means, which includes a second conduit in direct heattransfer relation with said condenser and communicable with a drainlocated exteriorly of said holding means, and which includes valve meansresponsive to the internal pressure conditions of said refrigerationsystem selectively communicating said second conduit with said waterinlet.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes a waterreservoir disposed below said form, means located between said reservoirand said form for directing water toward said form, means for pumpingwater from said reservoir to said last mentioned means, motor meanslocated above said means for directing water toward said form, and meansdisposed between said motor means and said pump means for communicatingwater from said pump means back to said reservoir. 8. In an icemakingapparatus, a form for receiving water to be frozen, a water reservoirdisposed below said form, means located between said reservoir and saidform for directing water toward said form, pumping means for pumpingwater from said reservoir to said last mentioned means, motor means fordriving said pumping means and spaced vertically therefrom, a drivingmember for transmitting motive power from said motor means to said pumpmeans, and conduit means having a first portion thereof disposedadjacent said driving member and a second portion thereof communicablewith said reservoir, whereby any water accumulating adjacent saiddriving member upon operation of said motor means will be communicatedback through said conduit means to said reservoir.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 which includes means forautomatically controlling the water level in said reservoir.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 which includes overflowmeansin said reservoir located below the position of said motor meansfor assuring the water level in said reserovir will never rise abovesaid position of said motor means.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said driving membercomprises a drive shaft, which includes housing means at least partiallyenclosing said drive shaft, and wherein said conduit means iscommunicable with said housing means.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 8 which includes an overflow forsaid reservoir, and wherein said motor means is disposed above saidoverflow, whereby the maximum water level attained in said reservoir isbelow said motor means.

13. In an icemaking apparatus,

a form of receiving water to be frozen,

a water reservoir disposed below said form,

means located between said reservoir and said form for directing watertoward said form,

means for pumping water from said reservoir to said last mentionedmeans,

motor means for driving said pumping means and located thereabove,

means disposed between said motor means and said pumping means forcommunicating water from said pump means back to said reservoir,

a refrigeration system having a condenser,

water holding means,

valve means for communicating fresh water from a source thereof to saidwater holding means,

means for retaining water adjacent said form,

conduit means for communicating water from said holding means to saidretaining means,

means communicating water from said retaining means to said reservoir,

means for communicating water from said reservoir toward said form,

a water outlet,

means for communicating any water in said reservoir in excess of apredetermined amount to said water outlet,

water circulating means in direct heat transfer relation with saidcondenser, and

means responsive to the operative condition of said refrigeration systemfor communicating said water circulating means with said water source.

14. In an icemaking apparatus,

a form for receiving water to be frozen,

a refrigeration system including an evaporator adjacent said form,

means for retaining thawing water adjacent said form,

water holding means for said thawing Water,

valve means for communicating fresh water from a source thereof to saidwater holding means,

conduit means for communicating thawing water from said holding means tosaid retaining means,

a water reservoir,

means communicating water from said thawing water retaining means tosaid reservoir,

means for communicating water from said reservoir toward said form,

a water outlet,

means for communicating any water in said reservoir in excess ofapredetermined amount to said water outlet,

a water inlet,

first water circulating means in direct heat transfer relation with saidcondenser and communicable with said thawing water retaining means,

second water circulating means in direct heat transfer relation withsaid condenser, and

means responsive to the operative conditions of said refrigerationsystem for communicating one of said water circulating means with saidWater inlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,569,113 9/1951 Munshower 62344X 2,729,070 l/1956 Ames 62352 X 2,921,447 1/ 1960 Gottschalk 62348 X3,048,988 8/1962 Nelson 62347 3,218,824 11/ 1965 Nelson 62348 3,362,1871/1968 Kloster et a1. 62347 WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Primary Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

